JP3697095B2 - Toner cartridge - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image using a developer.Development equipmentDeveloper(toner)The present invention relates to a toner cartridge for replenishing toner.
[0002]
Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming system. Examples of the image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser beam printer, an LED printer, etc.), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and the like.
[0003]
[Prior art]
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as an image forming apparatus) such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser beam printer forms a latent image by selectively exposing a uniformly charged photosensitive drum. The latent image is developed with a developer to form a developed image, and the developed image is transferred to a recording medium to perform image recording. In such an apparatus, the developer must be replenished every time the developer runs out. However, the toner cartridge for replenishing the developer to the image forming apparatus uses the developer accommodated in the developer receiving container of the image forming apparatus main body. The so-called replenishment type cartridges that are replenished all at once, and the so-called stationary cartridges, in which the cartridges are mounted on the image forming apparatus main body and then left as they are, and the developer is gradually replenished until the developer is used up. Is done.
[0004]
In any toner cartridge, the toner replenishing container is usually shaped like an elongated box or cylinder. Therefore, when the toner cartridge is transported or stored, the toner cartridge is often transported and stored in a vertically placed state in which the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge is vertical. As a result, the toner in the toner replenishing container is biased to one side in the longitudinal direction, and when transported, the toner may be agglomerated as if the toner was crushed and hardened by the vibration.
[0005]
Such toner cartridges are usually accompanied by a notice that the toner cartridge should be mounted on the image forming apparatus after it is shaken well before use. It may be used while agglomerated. When the toner cartridge is mounted on the image forming apparatus and the image forming apparatus is operated while the toner is agglomerated in this way, the load torque of the stirring member becomes extremely high, which may cause damage to the stirring member and related parts. is there.
[0006]
In order to deal with such problems, for example, in JP-A-1-205185, there is a method of detecting the load torque of the stirring member and preventing the rotation of the stirring member by the load release mechanism when the load torque is high. It is disclosed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-298379 discloses a method for preventing breakage of a stirring member by making the stirring member with a soft elastic body. Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-240973, a method of preventing toner from aggregating by swinging a swinging plate attached to the inner wall of the toner container by a spring interposed between the inner wall of the toner container. Is disclosed.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional example has the following problems.
[0008]
The method of preventing the stirring member from rotating by the load release mechanism when the load torque is high and the method of making the stirring member with a soft elastic body have the function of stirring and transporting the toner even if damage to the parts can be prevented. Since the image is lost or weakened, white spots or the like tend to occur in the printed image.
[0009]
Further, the method of swinging the swing plate attached to the inner wall of the toner container by a spring interposed between the inner wall of the toner container is such that the vibration plate does not vibrate or is stored when stored in a place with little vibration. Since the toner is agglomerated, the toner agglomerates and tends to be overloaded with the agitating member and the image forming apparatus when the toner cartridge is mounted and operated without the operation of shaking the toner cartridge before use. There is.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge having improved operability by eliminating a cartridge swinging operation before toner replenishment.
[0011]
  Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge having a protective function that does not apply high driving resistance to the image forming apparatus main body and the stirring member when toner is supplied to the image forming apparatus main body.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The main present invention will be described below with numbers corresponding to the claims.
[0013]
    The first invention according to the present application is a developing device.A toner cartridge that replenishes toner, a toner container that contains toner, a toner discharge port provided at a predetermined position of the toner container, a sealing member that seals the toner discharge port, and an inside of the toner container A stirring member that stirs the toner by rotating the toner, and a drive transmission member that is slidably engaged with the driving member of the developing device and that transmits the rotational driving force received from the driving member to the stirring member.In the toner cartridge,When the drive transmission member receives a rotational driving force, the drive transmission member repeatedly engages / disengages with the drive member as the rotational resistance force of the stirring member increases, thereby causing the stirring member to move in the axial direction. The stirring member is configured to rotate by maintaining the engagement between the drive transmission member and the driving member as the rotational resistance force of the stirring member decreases.This is a toner cartridge.
[0017]
[Action]
  Even when the toner cartridge is transported in a vertically placed state or left for a long time in a vertically placed state, the toner is agglomerated so that the initial drive resistance force is increased. Stirring sectionMaterialSwings and breaks up the agglomerated toner. Next, when the toner is crushed and the driving resistance is reduced and stabilized, a normal stirring operation such as a rotation operation can be performed, so that the toner can be supplied without performing the operation of shaking the toner cartridge before the toner is supplied. Further, since the high driving resistance force generated at the initial stage of toner supply is not applied to the developing device main body, it is also effective as a protective function for the developing device main body.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the toner cartridge according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
[Embodiment 1]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the developing device. The developing device 9 includes a developing roller 9c that applies toner to the photosensitive drum 10, and a stirring member 9b that stirs the toner in the developing chamber 9a.
[0021]
The configuration of the toner cartridge C will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the toner cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 9d of the developing device 9 serving as the cartridge mounting means, and is left as it is until the toner is used up, and the toner is gradually supplied to the developing chamber 9a. This is a so-called (built-in) cartridge.
[0022]
3 and FIG. 4, the toner cartridge includes a toner supply container 1, flanges 2 and 3, agitation member 5, biasing member 11, cap member 4, handle 6, and toner supply container 1. It comprises a seal member 7 for sealing the toner discharge port 1a.
[0023]
  (Toner supply container)
  The toner supply container 1 is constituted by a cylindrical member, and a toner discharge port 1a that is long in the generatrix direction on the circumference thereof, and a seal member 7 that closes the toner discharge port 1a so that the toner can be opened are provided. Is provided. In the present embodiment, a cylindrical member is used as the toner supply container 1 and the seal member 7 that is releasably closed at the toner discharge port 1a is used. Regarding the seal of the toner discharge port 1a, for example, FIG. 7, the shutter member 8 that engages with the shutter member engaging portion 1c having a key-shaped cross section provided in the circumferential direction around the toner discharge port 1a may be openable and closable. Shutter-When the toner discharge port 1a is closed, the member 8 is in close contact with the seat 1b around the toner discharge opening 1a via an elastic member 8a such as rubber, and the toner supply container 1 is sealed.
[0024]
  In the present embodiment, the shape is cylindrical. However, the shape is not limited to the cylindrical shape, and for example, a hollow shape combining a substantially semicircle and a trapezoid shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 may be used. FIG. 8 shows the toner discharge port 1a sealed with a toner seal, and FIG. 9 shows the shutter.ElementThere is no particular limitation on the configuration and the number of parts of the toner supply container 1 (not shown, which closes the toner discharge port 1a).
[0025]
(Flange)
As shown in the exploded views of FIGS. 3 and 5 and FIG. 4, the flanges 2 and 3 are fitted and fixed to both ends of the cylindrical toner supply container 1 to seal the toner supply container 1. Is.
[0026]
When the toner cartridge C is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 9d of the developing device 9, the toner supply container 1 to which the flanges 2 and 3 are fixed is not moved to the mounting portion 9d by mounting means (not shown).
[0027]
The flange 2 is circular and has a shaft hole 2a that rotatably supports the shaft portion 5a1 of the drive transmission portion 5a.
[0028]
One flange 3 has an opening 3b for toner filling, and a cross-shaped rib 3a having a receiving portion 3d for receiving the urging force of the urging member 11 is formed inside the opening 3b, and at the center thereof. A shaft hole 3c for pivotally supporting the stirring member 5 is formed. In the present embodiment, the flange 3 is provided with the receiving portion 3d for receiving the spring force of the compression coil spring provided as the biasing member 11 to be provided inside the toner replenishing container 1. However, in the component exploded view of FIG. As shown, a receiving portion 2 b of the urging member 11 is provided on the opposite side of the flange 2 to the side to be fitted and adhered to the toner replenishing container 1, and the urging member 11 is provided outside the toner replenishing container 1. May be deployed (see FIG. 11). Furthermore, at least one of the flange members may be formed integrally with the toner supply container, and the configuration and the number of parts are not particularly limited.
[0029]
  (Stirring member)
  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the stirring member 5 includes a drive transmission unit.Material (hereinafter referred to as drive transmission part)5a, a stirring shaft 5c, and a stirring portion including a stirring blade 5b attached to the stirring shaft 5c.
[0030]
The stirring shaft 5c is, for example, a rod-shaped member having a substantially H-shaped cross section, and has a cylindrical fitting portion 5d fitted into the shaft hole 3c of the flange 3 and a receiving portion 5f (see FIG. 3 only) is formed, and the other is formed with a fitting portion 5e that fits into the hollow shaft portion 5a1 of the drive transmission portion 5a. In this embodiment, since the urging member 11 is provided inside the toner replenishing container 1, the receiving portion 5f of the urging member 11 is provided in a flange shape in which the agitation shaft 5c is enlarged in diameter. However, as shown in the exploded view of FIG. 5, the drive transmission portion 5 a is provided with a receiving portion 5 g for receiving the urging member 11, and the urging member 11 is arranged outside the toner supply container 1. It doesn't matter if you do. Moreover, the stirring member 5 may be integrally formed, and there is no particular limitation on the configuration and the number of parts. The drive transmission unit 5a may be any unit that generates an axial force when a high driving resistance force is generated when a driving force is transmitted from the image forming apparatus, and an example thereof will be described later.
[0031]
(Stirring blade)
The stirring blade 5b attached to the stirring shaft 5c has, for example, a blade portion protruding in at least two directions from the stirring shaft 5c as shown in FIGS. In the present embodiment, one having a flexible main wing part 5b1 and an auxiliary wing part 5b2 projecting in two directions is used. Further, the agitation shaft 5c and the agitation blade 5b may be integrally formed, and there is no particular limitation on the configuration and the number of parts as long as the agitation efficiency and dischargeability of the toner can be sufficiently obtained.
[0032]
(cap)
The cap member 4 closes the opening 3b serving as a filling port provided in the flange 3 after the toner supply container 1 is filled with toner. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the cap member 4 has a cylindrical shape having a bottom portion. It consists of the member formed in. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a cylindrical member having a bottom portion having a cross groove 4a into which the rib 3a of the flange 3 is fitted is used.
[0033]
The convex portion 4b generated by the bottom cross-shaped groove 4a is press-fitted into the opening 3b having the cap 4 as a filling port, thereby sealing the opening 3b as the filling port and preventing toner leakage. The shape, configuration, and number of parts are not particularly limited as long as the opening 3b serving as a filling port is sealed to prevent toner leakage.
[0034]
(Handle member)
The handle 6 member fills the toner replenishing container 1 with toner, and then covers the cap member 4 that seals the opening 3 b serving as a filling port, and is fitted and fixed to the flange 3 so that the toner cartridge C is attached to and detached from the developing device 9. It will be a handle when you do. In the present embodiment, the shape shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 is used. Further, the configuration and the number of parts are not particularly limited as long as the toner cartridge C can be appropriately attached to and detached from the developing device 9.
[0035]
(Biasing member)
When the urging member 11 is provided inside the toner replenishing container 1, the urging member 11 includes the urging member receiving portion 5f of the stirring member 5 and the urging member of the flange 3 as shown in FIG. Provided between the receiving portions 3d. In this embodiment, the biasing member 11 is used by using a method provided between the receiving portion 5f of the biasing member 11 of the stirring member 5 and the receiving portion 3d of the biasing member 11 of the flange 3 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, one end of the stirring shaft 5c is fitted into a round hole 3e provided in the flange 3 so as to be freely movable in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. A method in which the urging member 11 is provided between the receiving member 5i and the receiving portion 5f of the urging member 11 which is in contact with the edge of the hole 3e and inserted into the stirring shaft 5c, and as shown in FIGS. 10 (b) and 10 (c). The biasing member 11 may be accommodated in the round hole 3e provided in the flange 3, and the configuration and the number of parts are not particularly limited as long as the agitating member 5 can be swung appropriately.
[0036]
On the other hand, when the urging member 11 is provided outside the toner supply container 1, the urging member 11 urges the receiving portion 5g of the urging member of the drive transmission portion 5a and the urging force of the flange 2 as shown in FIG. Between the receiving portions 2b of the member, it is provided by being inserted into the shaft portion 5a1. Further, when the urging member 11 is installed, the urging member receiving member 5h may be inserted into the shaft portion 5a1 of the drive transmission portion 5a as shown in FIG. 11A is provided with a flange 2, FIG. 11B is provided with a drive transmission portion 5a, and FIG. 11C is provided with a receiving member 5h that contacts the flange 2 and the drive transmission portion 5a. The arrangement of the urging member 11 is not particularly limited with respect to the configuration and the number of parts as long as the swinging operation of the stirring member 5 can be performed conveniently.
[0037]
Examples of the urging member include an elastic member such as a coil spring, a leaf spring, and rubber. However, as long as a predetermined elastic force is obtained when a certain force is applied, the urging member can be appropriately used as the urging member. .
[0038]
  (Drive transmission part)
  The shaft portion 5a1 of the drive transmission portion 5a is fitted and fixed to the stirring shaft 5c of the stirring portion of the stirring member 5. Furthermore, the drive transmission part 5a is a drive part shown in FIG.Material12, the driving force from the developing device main body is transmitted to the stirring member 5 in the toner replenishing container 1, and the swinging and stirring operations of the stirring member 5 are performed. In the drawings other than FIG. 14 and FIG.MaterialThe portion engaged with 12 is not shown.
[0039]
  In the state where the toner is tightly aggregated due to transportation or long-term storage in the vertical state in which the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge C is vertical, the driving force is applied from the driving member 12 (see FIG. 17) of the developing device body to the stirring transmission unit 5a. When the force is transmitted to the agitating portion of the agitating member 5 via the drive resistance force, which is an axial force larger than the elastic force of the biasing member 11, acts on the drive transmitting portion 5a (FIGS. 15, 16, and 17). Arrow A direction). At this time, the drive unit of the developing device bodyMaterial12 and the gear teeth 12a-1, 5a-1 engaged with the drive transmission portion 5a,gearWhen the cross-sections cut in the circumferential direction of the teeth 12a-1 and 5a-1 are trapezoidal with respect to each other's teeth and the contact surface is oblique, the drive unit of the developing device bodyMaterialWhen the driving force is transmitted from 12, the driving resistance force acts in the axial direction (the direction of arrow A in FIGS. 15, 16, and 17). When the driving resistance force acting in the axial direction is larger than the force obtained by adding the elastic force of the urging member 11 and the resistance to the toner for moving the stirring blade 5b in the axial direction, FIG. The drive transmission portion 5a is pushed in the direction of the arrow A against the urging force of the urging member 11, as shown in FIG. 17, and then the gear teeth 12a of the drive portion of the developing device main body as shown in FIG. -1 gets over the gear teeth 5a-1 of the drive transmission portion, and the drive resistance force is reduced. At the same time, the drive transmission portion 5a is deformed by the spring force of the biasing member 11 bent in the direction of arrow A in FIG. ) To restore in the direction of arrow A '. Further, this series of operations is repeated until the driving resistance force falls below the elastic force of the biasing member 11. The power required to move the stirring blade 5b in the toner in the axial direction is much smaller than the power required to stir the toner.
[0040]
By the expansion and contraction operation of the urging member 11 in the stirring axis direction (arrows A and A ′ directions), the stirring member 5 is swung while applying a rotational force to break up the agglomerated toner, and in the toner supply container 1. This prevents the stirring member 5 and the driving member 12 of the developing device main body from being damaged.
[0041]
  In the present embodiment, the drive transmission unit 5a is a crown gear having gear teeth 5a-1 as shown in FIG. Also, the drive unit of the developing device main bodyMaterialDrive transmission part 125aofGear teethA crown gear having gear teeth 12a-1 such as 5a-1 was used to engage with the drive transmission portion 5a.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 14, the gear teeth 5a-1 of the drive transmission unit 5a can be made to swing efficiently by making the crown teeth gear teeth.
[0043]
  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the drive transmission portion 5a is provided with a ring-shaped rib 5a-3, and the flange 2 is further provided with a round hole 2d having a ring-shaped flange portion 2c on the inner periphery thereof. -3 may be movably fitted into the round hole 2d, and the drive transmission portion 5a may be incorporated into the flange 2 and integrated. In this case, if the urging member 11 is contracted, a torque exceeding a certain level is driven.TransmissionWhen applied to the portion 5a, the stirring member 5 is moved in the axial direction, and the torque is further increased to perform the swinging operation.
[0044]
Further, in FIG. 13, by inserting a buffer member 15 such as rubber between the flange 2 and the receiving member 5h, the stress generated in the receiving member 5h generated when the biasing member 11 is rapidly contracted is relieved. ing.
[0045]
The shapes of the drive member 12 and the drive transmission portion 5a of the developing device main body are not limited in configuration and the number of parts as long as the swinging and stirring operations of the stirring member 5 can be efficiently performed. .
[0046]
In the toner cartridge configuration, 380 g of toner is filled, and the drive transmission unit 5a of the toner cartridge is placed vertically so that the tapping device manufactured in-house is used. The tapping amplitude is 1 cm and the tapping cycle is 1.5 times. Tapping was performed 1000 times at / sec. Next, the toner cartridge that has been tapped is mounted on a developing device in which a torque measuring machine is incorporated so as not to vibrate, and is operated at a rotational speed of 10 rpm to measure the torque of the toner cartridge and observe the driving state. It was. The toner cartridge swings in the axial direction (in the directions of arrows A and A ′ in FIGS. 15 and 16) from the initial driving to a torque of 78.5 N · cm, and thereafter performs normal stirring (rotating motion) operation. I did it. After the toner was discharged, the toner cartridge was disassembled and the stirring unit was examined. However, no damage or the like was found on the stirring member and the drive transmission unit. Furthermore, an image output test was performed with the same configuration as that of the toner cartridge, but the image quality was good and no problem occurred.
[0047]
[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, the flange 3 and the agitation member 5 are provided with receiving portions 3d and 5f of the urging member, and the urging member 11 is arranged between the flange 3 and the agitation shaft 5c, so that the toner supply container 1 is provided. Although the biasing member 11 is provided inside, a part of the second embodiment has been described in the first embodiment, but the bias is applied to the drive transmission portion 5a and the flange 2 as shown in FIG. The member receiving portions 5g and 2b are provided, and the urging member 11 is disposed between the flange 2 and the drive transmission portion 5a so that the urging member 11 is provided outside the toner supply container 1. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. In addition, the description of Embodiment 1 is used for others.
[0048]
Also in the present embodiment, tapping was performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and torque measurement, driving state observation, and imaging test were similarly performed.
[0049]
The toner cartridge oscillated in the axial direction (in the directions of arrows A and A ′ in FIG. 16) from the initial driving to a torque of 83.4 N · cm, and thereafter a normal stirring (rotating motion) operation was performed. Further, after the toner was discharged, the toner cartridge was disassembled and the agitating portion was examined. However, the agitating member and the drive transmission portion were not damaged, and the result of the image output test was as good as in the first embodiment. Results were obtained.
[0050]
[Embodiment 3]
In this embodiment, the drive transmission unit is not moved in the axial direction. Therefore, the toner cartridge has means in the toner cartridge for receiving a driving force from the developing means and swinging the stirring portion in the axial direction. FIG. 18 shows a third embodiment.
[0051]
The drive transmission portion 5a is attached to a hollow cylindrical flange 13 fitted and fixed to the flange 2 so as to be rotatable and not axially moved. A shaft coupling that engages with and disengages a driving member of a developing device (not shown) is provided on the outside of the drive transmission unit 5a. A clutch member 14 that is axially movable and rotatably supported by the flange 2 is provided on the inner side of the flange 13. The clutch member 14 is fixed to the end of the stirring shaft 5c.
[0052]
Between the inner side of the drive transmission part 5a and the clutch member 14, crown gear teeth 5a-2 and 14a meshing with each other are provided. The teeth 5a-2 and 14a of the crown gear have a pressure angle at which an appropriate thrust is generated by the rotational force.
[0053]
Other than the above, the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment. According to this embodiment, since no external force is applied in the axial direction to the drive transmission portion, the configuration of the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing device is simplified.
[0054]
[Comparative Example 1]
A conventional stirring unit 50 shown in FIG. 19 was incorporated in the same toner replenishing container 1 (reference numeral 55) as in the first embodiment, and tapping and torque measurement were performed in the same manner. The stirring section 50 is provided with a toner feed blade 53 in one direction of a rotation shaft 51 via a holding member 52 made of an elastic body, and a slit 54 extending in the rotation radius direction of the toner feed blade 53. The rotation radius of the toner feed blade 53 is the same as the inner peripheral radius of the toner supply container 1.
[0055]
The result of torque measurement was from 196 N · cm to 205 N · cm at the time of start-up, and an abnormal noise was generated almost simultaneously, and the torque was drastically reduced. When the toner cartridge was disassembled and the stirring portion was examined, the stirring member and the drive transmission portion were damaged.
[0056]
As described above, since the agitating member and the drive transmission portion were damaged, the image drawing test was not performed.
[0057]
In the embodiment, the drive member of the developing device and the drive transmission portion of the toner cartridge that engages and disengages with the drive member are a pair of crown gears, but a pair of claw clutches may be used. To reduce the number of swings, an end face cam (single tooth clutch) may be used.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
    The present inventionAccording to the toner cartridge, the toner loosening operation by swinging the stirring member and the toner stirring by rotating the stirring memberSince the operation is automatically switched at an appropriate time according to the magnitude of the rotational resistance force of the stirring member, even if the toner is aggregated at the initial use of the toner cartridge, it can be loosened. At the right time when the toner is loosenedStirringIt can be performed. Therefore,
(1) The toner cartridge swinging operation before the toner supply can be omitted, and the operability can be improved.
(2) The stirrer and related parts can be prevented from being damaged even when high driving resistance is generated due to toner aggregation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
Drawings other than FIG. 19 show embodiments of the present invention,
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a developing device.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the toner cartridge.
FIG. 4 is a front view of a flange.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the toner cartridge.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a shutter member.
FIG. 7 is a side view of the shutter member.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another toner supply container.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another toner supply container.
FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are cross-sectional views including a stirring shaft for explaining the configuration of the urging member. FIGS.
11A, 11B, and 11C are cross-sectional views including a stirring shaft for explaining the configuration of the urging member.
12A and 12B are cross-sectional views including a stirring shaft for explaining the configuration of the urging member.
FIGS. 13A and 13B are cross-sectional views including a stirring shaft for explaining the configuration of the urging member. FIGS.
FIGS. 14A and 14B are explanatory diagrams of a configuration of a drive transmission unit, in which FIG. 14A is a front view, and FIG. 14B is a side view.
FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the swinging operation of the toner cartridge.
FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the swinging operation of the toner cartridge.
FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C, and 17D are side views for explaining an engagement method between a driving unit of the developing device and a driving transmission unit of the toner cartridge. FIGS.
FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view of a toner cartridge according to a third embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional stirring member.
[Explanation of symbols]
C ... Toner cartridge
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Toner supply container 1a ... Toner discharge port 1b ... Bottom part 1c ... Shutter member engaging part
2 ... Flange 2a ... Shaft hole 2b ... Receiving part 2c ... Ring-shaped flange 2d ... Round hole
3 ... Flange 3a ... Rib 3b ... Opening as filling port 3c ... Shaft hole 3d ... Receiving part 3e ... Round hole
4 ... Cap member 4a ... Cross groove 4b ... Protrusion
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 ... Stirring member 5a ... Drive transmission part 5a1 ... Shaft part 5a-1 ... Gear tooth 5a-2 ... Crown gear tooth 5a-3 ... Ring-shaped rib 5b ... Stirring blade 5b1 ... Main wing part 5b2 ... Auxiliary wing part 5c ... Stirring Shaft 5d ... Fitting part 5e ... Fitting part 5f ... Receiving part
5g ... receiving part 5h ... receiving member 5i ... receiving member
6 ... handle
7. Seal member
8 ... Shutter member 8a ... Elastic member
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Developing apparatus 9a ... Developing chamber 9b ... Stirring member 9c ... Developing roller 9d ... Cartridge mounting part
10 ... Photosensitive drum
11 ... Biasing member
12 ... Drive member 12a-1 ... Gear teeth
13 ... Flange
14 ... Clutch member 14a ... Crown gear teeth
15 ... Buffer member
50. Stirring section
51 ... Rotating shaft
52. Holding member
53. Toner feed blade
54 ... Slit

Claims (1)

A toner cartridge for replenishing toner to a developing device, a toner container for containing toner, a toner discharge port provided at a predetermined position of the toner container, a sealing member for sealing the toner discharge port, An agitation member that agitates the toner in the toner container by rotating; a drive transmission member that is engagable with the driving member of the developing device and that transmits a rotational driving force received from the driving member to the agitation member; In a toner cartridge having
When the drive transmission member receives a rotational driving force, the drive transmission member repeatedly engages / disengages with the drive member as the rotational resistance force of the stirring member increases, thereby causing the stirring member to move in the axial direction. And the stirring member is rotated by maintaining the engagement between the drive transmission member and the drive member as the rotational resistance force of the stirring member decreases. cartridge.

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